11 Bg3 seems best. Why relieve Black's defense by swapping pieces ?
A more common motif on move 13 would be Rb1, b4 and b5. If 13 .....a5, then 14 a3 to still get in 15 b4. This is called a minority attack, where Black's c6 pawn can turn out very weak.
11 Bg3 seems best. Why relieve Black's defense by swapping pieces ?
A more common motif on move 13 would be Rb1, b4 and b5. If 13 .....a5, then 14 a3 to still get in 15 b4. This is called a minority attack, where Black's c6 pawn can turn out very weak.
I fully agree. Another plan would be to put your king knight on e2, put your rooks on f1 and e1 and expand in the centre with f3 and e4 (after moving the e2 knight). Here is a YouTube video illustrating the ideas in this line of play:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_4vz3EE8t0
Thanks for your comments!
@HorsesGalore: The minority attack is something I have never actually tried in my games. It somehow feels wrong to move my rook there :) but I should really try it in my next games.
@FischerChips: Thanks for the link! It looks helpful. I sometimes try to play the way you suggested, with the knight on e2, but I remembered that idea too late in this game.
I would also say that a minority attack is the first plan that comes to mind. Even though black might have wasted a couple of tempi with knight moves, it doesn't mean that you need to open up the center to take advantage of his lack of development. If you execute your plan on the queenside, black will be very far away from generating counterplay on the kingside.
Your idea of playing for an attack with the isolated pawn is still interesting. It is perhaps a bit more risky since the isolated pawn will become a weakness in the endgame. In the middlegame you have to take advantage of the fact that the d4 pawn gives you extra space. Trading pieces will only help your opponent reach an endgame. There is only a check on h7, so I would avoid the knight-trade.
22. Bxf5 seems winning for you. The rook is untouchable due to Be6+ when black has to give up a rook with check to avoid the queen-fork.
you spent a long time moving the pawn insted of actuly advanceing your pieses
you spent a long time moving the pawn insted of actuly advanceing your pieses
which pawn do you mean?
22. Bxf5 seems winning for you. The rook is untouchable due to Be6+ when black has to give up a rook with check to avoid the queen-fork.
The engine gives these nice attacking variations.
Thanks for all your helpfu comments! Part of my idea with breaking the center was that my rooks would be great on the open files. Will look into the minority attack more and add it to my arsenal.
No no no. Don't play 25. Ng6+ yet. Play Qc5+ & then that's it.
(if 26....Qe7. Now you play Ng6+....and bazinga.
I played this game today and lost. I felt quite good out of the opening, but I have a tendency of building a slight advantage and then giving it away in the middlegame. So any tips on how I could have gone about this game differently would be great!